This week's guest correspondent picker, Mike Readling, held his own after Thursday's games. Then again, there were only five games and he only picked one differently from Purks and Niebuhr. Tonight's slate of 10 games is the real test.
Armwood (5-0) at Alonso (0-5)
LAST MEETING: Armwood 49, Alonso 13 (2003)
THE SKINNY: Someday the Hawks will get tired of scoring 50 points per game. Not tonight.
Purks: Armwood Niebuhr: Armwood Readling: Armwood
Blake (1-5) at Plant (2-3)
LAST MEETING: Blake 38, Plant 0 (2003)
THE SKINNY: The Panthers' best chance to even their record. Bonus!! It's a district game.
Purks: Plant Niebuhr: Plant Readling: Plant
Chamberlain (2-3) at Gaither (3-2)
LAST MEETING: Chamberlain 17, Gaither 7 (2003)
THE SKINNY: This is the 20th time these teams have met. Chamberlain leads the series 14-5. Gaither's looking to win it's first since 2000.
THE SKINNY: Eastern Hillsborough fact of the day: Tonight's host school was known as the Wimauma Wildcats until 1956 when it became East Bay High. Since, they've installed the wishbone offense and won a few games.
Purks: East Bay Niebuhr: East Bay Readling: East Bay
Jefferson (4-2) at Robinson (5-1)
LAST MEETING: Jefferson 17, Robinson 9 (2003)
THE SKINNY: One of the most important district games of the night. The non-victor (remember no one's a loser) will have a lot of ground to make up in the district race.
Purks: Robinson Niebuhr: Jefferson Readling: Robinson
Upperroom Chr. (4-1) at Bloomingdale (1-4)
LAST MEETING: None
THE SKINNY: Who does Bloomingdale know at the FHSAA to get a Class A team in the middle of the season? Whomever it is might not like the Bulls much. Upperroom scored 160 points in its first three games. Look out, Bulls.
Winter Haven All Saints (1-2) at Cambridge (3-3), 7
LAST MEETING: Cambridge 23, All Saints 20 (2003)
THE SKINNY: Cambridge has never lost to All Saints. Oh, that's because they're only a second-year program. Well, why change things now?
Purks: All Saints Niebuhr: All Saints Readling: All Saints
Durant (4-1) at Lakeland (6-0)
LAST MEETING: Lakeland 31, Durant 27 (2003)
THE SKINNY: Durant hopes that axiom about history always repeating itself comes true. History like way back in 2002 when the Cougars pulled off one of the biggest upsets in school history: Durant 28, Lakeland 17.
Purks: Lakeland Niebuhr: Durant Readling: Lakeland
Tampa Bay Tech (2-3) at Jesuit (4-1)
LAST MEETING: Jesuit 2, TBT 0 (2003)
THE SKINNY: A safety early in the first quarter was all Jesuit needed last year. You can bet it's going to take more than that this year.
Purks: Jesuit Niebuhr: Jesuit Readling: Jesuit
Tampa Catholic (0-5) at Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (2-3)
LAST MEETING: Cardinal Mooney 35, TC 15 (2003)
THE SKINNY: If Tampa Catholic is to record its fourth straight 2-8 season, it better get on the stick.
Purks: Mooney Niebuhr: Mooney Readling: Mooney
Temple Heights (1-4) at Calvary Chr. (3-1)
LAST MEETING: Temple Heights 34, Calvary 13 (2003)
THE SKINNY: Temple Heights still is looking to get on the right track. Heck, at this point the Eagles are looking for any track.
